"... The record shows I took the blows
And did it my way."
--- MAY THEIR MUSICAL GIFTS LAST FOREVER ---

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

March 6: Guitarist Alvin Lee of Ten Years died on this date in 2013...

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Born on December 19, 1944, he was 68-years-old when he passed away from "unforeseen complications following a routine surgical procedure" in Spain.

Born in Nottingham England, Lee began playing guitar age 13 and formed the core of the band Ten Years After by aged 15. Originally influenced by his parent's collection of jazz and blues records, it was the advent of rock and roll especially guitarists like Chuck Berry and Scotty Moore that sparked his creativity and inspiration.

The Jaybirds, as the early band was called, were popular locally and had success in Hamburg, Germany, following the Beatles there in 1962. But it wasn't until the band moved to London in 1966 and changed its name to Ten Years After that they achieved international success.

After an invitation to the famous Windsor Jazz & Blues Festival in 1967 they were offered their first recording contract. The self titled debut album surprisingly received play on San Francisco's underground radio stations and was enthusiastically embraced by listeners, including concert promoter Bill Graham who invited the band to tour America for the first time in the summer of 1968.

Audiences were immediately taken in by Lee's distinctive, soulful, rapid fire guitar playing and the band's innovative mix of blues, swing jazz and rock, and an American love affair began. Ten Years After would ultimately tour North America 28 times in 7 years, more than any other U.K. band.

Appearing at the famed Woodstock Festival, Lee's performance was one of the highlights and remains today a standard for many other guitarists. Captured on film in the documentary of the festival, his inspired playing bolstered his reputation, and soon the band was playing arenas and stadiums around the globe.

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Ten Years After had great success, releasing ten albums together, but by 1973, Lee was feeling limited by the band's style. With American gospel singer Mylon LeFevre and a host of rock talents like George Harrison, Steve Winwood, Ron Wood and Mick Fleetwood, he recorded and released On The Road To Freedom, a highly acclaimed album that was at the forefront of country rock.

A year later, Lee formed Alvin Lee & Company to play a show the Rainbow in London and released it as a double live album, In Flight. An energetic mix of rhythm & blues and rock, with a tribute to Elvis Presley thrown in for good measure. Members of the band continued on with Lee for his next two albums, Pump Iron and Let it Rock. He finished out the 70s with a powerhouse trio he called Ten Years Later who also released two albums, Ride On and Rocket Fuel, and toured extensively throughout Europe and the United States.

The 80s brought another change in Lee's direction, with two albums that were strong collaborations with Rarebird's Steve Gould and an extensive tour with the Rolling Stones' Mick Taylor joining his band.

Lee's overall musical output includes more than 20 albums, including 1985's Detroit Diesel and the back to back 90s collections of Zoom and 1994 (I Hear You Rocking). Guest artists on both albums include George Harrison, whose brilliant slide guitar perfectly complements Lee's lead. Their duet on 1994's The Bluest Blues led one reviewer to call it "the most perfect blues song ever recorded."

Alvin Lee in Tennessee, a 2004 release, was recorded with rock and roll legends Scotty Moore and D.J. Fontana. It's an upbeat selection of songs that are timely and forward looking, yet borrow from his beloved 50s rock and roll. There's even a new version of his signature song, I'm Going Home, performed here, according to Lee "as it always should have been."

Lee's newest album, Saguitar, released September 2007, showcases the artist's bluesy vocals and dazzling guitar work on 14 new songs that range from melancholic blues to raucous rock to an innovative interpretation of rap.

Endless

About Me

Dear Fellow Music Lovers-
During my life, I've had the good fortune to live and travel to many places. What I've found wherever I go - whether I'm sitting in a blues club in Memphis or New Orleans, or a coffee shop or tavern in Caracas, Tel Aviv, or Sarajevo - people gather where there's music.
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